I'm always impressed by these custom built wheels.
LITTLE TOAD! RRBBO#14 Class 2. I'm out. :(
- Thread starter LukeTheJoker
- Start date
Help Support Rat Rod Bikes Bicycle Forum:
Only you would look at a car wheel and say, "it's just not wide enough for a bike!" !!!! 
Love the wheel man!!!
I think Lil' Toad is a great build name.
Love the wheel man!!!
I think Lil' Toad is a great build name.
Are you planning a front steering trike? I thought tadpoles were rear steer-front drive (like a backwards trike) hence the tadpole tail motion as it steered... I could be mistaken...
Carl.
Carl.
Tadpole trikes are one drive wheel in the rear and 2 steering wheels in front giving you a much lower center of gravity than a regular trike or recumbent.
Have always wanted to try one.
SHOP TOUR! SHOP TOUR!
Erm... sorry... I just got excited...can't wait to see the progress!
Here ya go! It's not huge, but it is my little workshop:
Only you would look at a car wheel and say, "it's just not wide enough for a bike!" !!!!
Love the wheel man!!!
I think Lil' Toad is a great build name.
Tadpole trikes are two in front, usually steering at the front too and one rear. Big head little tail, like a tadpole.
While this build will have two front steering wheels and one rear driving like a 'bent trike, mine will be more upright, I have some other tricks I want to incorporate...Tadpole trikes are one drive wheel in the rear and 2 steering wheels in front giving you a much lower center of gravity than a regular trike or recumbent.
Have always wanted to try one.
I had a test sit in Kelvin Hahnel's 'bent trike, very cool, very comfortable and no doubt quite quick! My only worry is that a truck driver may not see the little flag and just drive straight over the top of you...
...that was always my biggest consideration with those too. So "bent trike" is the real low ones? Was hoping the 'lil Toad would have your head below the top of the back tire..
That would be very cool indeed!
I meant 'bent as in short for recumbent, I'm just lazy and didn't want to type the whole thing...
Made me think of this 73 pro Street Vega.
& The Cincinnati Kid..
Says, Rock On ,
Oooo, I should paint it that green!
Made me think of this 73 pro Street Vega.View attachment 95120
& The Cincinnati Kid..
Says, Rock On ,
View attachment 95122 ,
I had some red/copper metalflake put aside for this, but maybe I need to think a little more...
After filming the workshop tour video work resumed on the rear wheel center.
First cut some little triangles from 16g sheet:
Drilled them all and bolted together into two groups:
Ground to shape, which melted the nylon in the locknuts:
Welded nuts to the back of each triangle to holds bolts when the wheel is done.
Then started welding the triangles in, some of the welds don't look great because I had gaps to fill, still learning the best methods on how to do that with a TIG:
Cleaned up decent though:
Other side:
Cleaned:
After the extra work to weld nuts on the triangles and fit them up, I'm not actually liking the way it looks with the stainless bolts on there (they were meant to mimic wheel nuts) I might just weld the holes up...
Thoughts?
First cut some little triangles from 16g sheet:
Drilled them all and bolted together into two groups:
Ground to shape, which melted the nylon in the locknuts:
Welded nuts to the back of each triangle to holds bolts when the wheel is done.
Then started welding the triangles in, some of the welds don't look great because I had gaps to fill, still learning the best methods on how to do that with a TIG:
Cleaned up decent though:
Other side:
Cleaned:
After the extra work to weld nuts on the triangles and fit them up, I'm not actually liking the way it looks with the stainless bolts on there (they were meant to mimic wheel nuts) I might just weld the holes up...
Thoughts?
What about : acorns, or bullet points... ?
When you said you wanted to add triangles to the wheel. I didn’t think you could make it look any better. But wow! It really looks great now! I think the nuts will look good when the wheel is all assembled with tire and all.
Here ya go! It's not huge, but it is my little workshop:
Nice little shop you have there.
Hey your workshop may be small but as you said it keeps you out of the weather...
- Joined
- Jul 4, 2015
- Messages
- 382
- Reaction score
- 825
Love the build so far Luke and I like the new shed upgrades.
How about using the holes to attach wheel centre caps sort of like these examples...
You have the skills to make something that would look good painted or polished.
Glen.
EDIT:
I'm an ........ you can't do something like this because your axle will be going through the middle. 
Last edited:
well done on that wheel as always ! cool shop place too , subbed!!
I think the problem is they are to far out board from where they should be to look right.
I would actually really like to see such a build - with a rear steering like a fork lift truck.
Cool thinking! I am leaning towards a less is more approach seeing as the wheel will be so big anyway...What about : acorns, or bullet points... ?
Thanks Skip!
All good Glen, I am thinking about building something similar to the 3 spoke one on another build that is single sided rear...How about using the holes to attach wheel centre caps sort of like these examples...
View attachment 95164
View attachment 95165
View attachment 95166
You have the skills to make something that would look good painted or polished.
Glen.
EDIT:
Thanks 1HP!
I think you have nailed the problem there! Probably just weld them up, if I want to add something later I can drill into the thick washer part and just tap the threads.
A few people have tried it, most of the time it works, but is not the smoothest for turning, sometimes they get speed wobbles too like a bad shopping cart wheel.
Thanks again for commenting everyone!
I thought you were putting the nuts on there to bolt a flange in for a disc brake. If they are only decorative I agree with your thinking as well.
You could possibly put pointed cones over them...
